[Application of the triage assessment system for a rapid assessment of mental health of the referral wounded and their family members in Wenchuan earthquake]

Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2008 Nov;42(11):798-801.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Objective: To quickly assess the psychological status of the wounded who were transferred in the earthquake and their family members, as to promoting the system of psychological crisis intervention.

Methods: The triage assessment system was used to the 44 wounded and 37 family members, additionally, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) for related analysis were also administrated to verify the effectiveness of screening of the triage assessment system.

Results: Of the 79 wounded and their families in the triage assessment system, the score of emotion in the wounded group was (3.07 +/- 1.38), the score of cognition was (2.34 +/- 1.39), the score of behavior was (2.71 +/- 1.47), and the total score was (8.12 +/- 3.69); the score of emotion in the family group was (2.51 +/- 1.27), the score of cognition was (1.57 +/- 0.85), the score of behavior was (1.71 +/- 1.02), and the total score was (5.80 +/- 2.61). There were significant differences in the family and the wounded group in cognition, behavior and the total (t(cognition) = 2.853, P = 0.006; t(behavior) = 3.366, P = 0.001; t(total) = 3.116, P = 0.003). Both the depression and anxiety symptoms in the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were 11.48 +/- 7.62, 9.23 +/- 5.64, and 8.49 +/- 4.87, 9.38 +/- 7.05, respectively. In the emotion, cognition, behavior and total scores of the triage assessment system related to higher with HAMD and HAMA were r(emotion-HAMD) = 0.393, P = 0.001; r(emotion-HAMA) = 0.443, P = 0.000; r(cognition-HAMD) = 0.434, P = 0.000; r(cognition-HAMA) = 0.240, P = 0.037; r(behavior-HAMD) = 0.529, P = 0.000; r(behavior-HAMA) = 0.256, P = 0.026; r(total-HAMD) = 0.517, P = 0.000; r(total-HAMA) = 0.369, P = 0.001.

Conclusion: The triage assessment system should be the reliable method for an assessment featured by a rapid, accurate and simple one in screening and monitoring.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • China
  • Disasters*
  • Earthquakes*
  • Family / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Mental Health*
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Psychological
  • Transportation of Patients
  • Triage
  • Wounds and Injuries / psychology*